About

Kirk Shiflett was born in 1961 in Pueblo, Colorado—the youngest son in a family of seven. From an early age, Kirk began drawing, and he was captivated by the wildlife, nature, and human interaction with it.

He spent his childhood along the Arkansas River Valley around Pueblo’s City Park Colorado, observing and sketching the local flora and fauna. He excelled in art classes at Central High School under the guidance of artist/teacher Robert Corty.

 At 19, he enlisted in the Navy and spent many years abroad in Nova Scotia, British Columbia, Denmark, England, Spain, Azores, Ontario, Germany, Scotland, Italy, the Caribbean, and many more. Kirk sketched and practiced his talents while traveling, enjoying nature, and experiencing the world. Kirk worked on his art in the Navy and was published in the Navy’s Link, All Hands, Navy Times, and Stars and Stripes. Kirk went to various shows around the country while he served and still has work in the combat art collection housed in Washington, D.C. 

After the service, Kirk used the 9-11 GI Bill and received a BFA (graduated Cum Laude) at Colorado Mesa University, Grand Junction, Co., in 2015. He received a heart transplant in May 2018 due to Toxic conditions while in the service.

 Kirk lives with his lovely wife, Rose, in Rocky Ford, Colorado. He is currently employed as the LaJunta Primary School art teacher and annually sponsors a children's juried art show.

His Curriculum vitae and more can be viewed at:

 https://www.artofkirkshiflett.com/,  https://www.artmajeur.com/kirkshif2,

and https://www.facebook.com/profile.

Kirk is a current member of:

The Oil Painters of America, LaJunta Fine Art League, Pueblo Art Guild, and the Fremont Center for the Arts.

Influences include:

Robert Corty, Frederick Remington, Charles M. Russell, Frank Frazetta, Michelangelo, the Dutch School, Rembrandt, Johannes Vermeer, Georgia O’Keeffe, Sandro Botticelli, Marie Spartali Stillman, Andrew Wyeth, John Singer Sargent, Winslow Homer, Gustav Klimt, Carl Brenders, Guy Coheleach Terry Isaac, and Edward Hopper.

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Artist Statement

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“My work is a commentary on the environments we all live in and human interaction with wildlife and their habitats. I integrate elements from influential painting traditions, such as the Dutch school. Or Renaissance. My work, usually done with oil paint, is highly detailed and contains elements of surrealistic narratives. The animals I paint take on anthropomorphic qualities as they are thrust into human environments and made to cope with changes to our and their habitats. “

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